3 advantages of using tankless hot water heaters for safety showers

26, May. 2025

 

3 advantages of using tankless hot water heaters for safety showers

Safety showers are essential for safety in a variety of industrial settings and tankless water heaters can be a great way of ensuring that they are performing up to code.

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Be it an oil refinery or a steel mill, there are a number of potential hazards that could cause harm to a worker and his or her surrounding peers. While they should be adhering to safety best practices to minimize the potential for injury, at the end of the day, accidents do happen, so your facility needs to be ready for anything that might happen.

This is why safety showers are so essential to plant operations. Not only are they vital for ensuring worker safety if he or she is contaminated with chemicals or clothes catch on fire, they are a requirement of every plant. In most cases, multiple showers are necessary. These showers need to be constantly prepared to perform, and the following are three reasons why tankless hot water heaters are the ideal solution for ensuring that they do so.

1. Point of use installation
Tankless water heaters are 90 percent smaller than their tank counter parts. This makes them easy to install almost anywhere, including the safety shower's location. According to the California Department of Industrial Relations, emergency eyewash and safety showers need to be accessible from anywhere in a plant in 10 seconds or less. By using a tankless hot water heater, the logistics of installing these stations become far easier, without taking up industrial floor space.

2. Consistent hot water supplies
Making sure that there is warm water available to wash the worker of contaminants is an absolute must in an industrial setting. With water heater tanks, there is a limited supply of hot water contingent on the size of the tank and how much has been previously used. If there is a particularly large accident, this hot water could be all used up, leaving some without the necessary hot water supplies.

Tankless water heaters on the other hand, heat water on demand, meaning that there is not lag time between activating the shower and the hot water arriving. Further still, hot water is constantly being produced by the heater, rather than being taken from the tank's reserves. This means that you will never have to worry about having enough hot water for any of your safety needs.

3. Meet ANSI requirements
Simply having ample water supplies is not enough to ensure the safety of employees. You also need to make sure that your safety showers are meeting the ANSI Z358.1 tepid water standards. These require that the water be within a temperature range of 60 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

These measures are in place to make sure that the water neither gives a worker hypothermia or scalds them when they need to cleanse themselves from contaminants. By using an electric tankless water heater, you can set the specific temperature that you would like for the station.

Plant safety is extremely important, which is why even when deciding to go with a tankless water heater is not enough – you need to make sure you select the right model. If there is a change in flow rate on some of these heaters, temperature can spike out of the ANSI required range. To ensure that no one is scalding by the hot water, these devices will effectively dump the hot water on the plant floor, creating its own safety hazards.

Fortunately some models employ flow sensor technology in order to heat the water as it is needed, eliminating the need for the water dump function. This way, you can ensure plant safety, while still taking advantage of the benefits that tankless water heaters have to offer.

The Pros and Cons of a Tankless Water Heater | Plumber Near Me

You just did the dishes and now it’s time to take a shower before bed. You turn on the water, wait a minute, and—uh oh. It’s lukewarm at best. Looks like the water heater’s out of hot water again.

Sound familiar? Trust us, we’ve been there too. 

Fortunately, installing a tankless water heater can provide a solution. They heat water on demand to make sure you always have hot water when you need it. Before you decide to make the switch, though, let’s break down the pros and cons so you can figure out if a tankless water heater is the right fit for your home.

The Pros of a Tankless Water Heater

Endless Supply of Hot Water

Traditional tank water heaters have storage tanks attached that maintain a supply of hot water. They heat and store a set amount of water depending on the size of the tank. And once that hot water runs out, well… all you’ll be left with is ice-cold water until the tank refills and heats up again.

Tankless water heaters mix things up a bit. Whenever you turn on the hot water, they heat the water as it flows through the system—no more waiting for the tank to refill or racing to shower before someone else uses up all the hot water. With a tankless water heater, everyone’s happy! 

Lower Energy Bills

Since a tankless water heater only heats water up when you want it to, it’ll save you some money on your energy bills. Tank water heaters are almost always reheating water to keep it hot, even when you’re not using it—and this can use up quite a bit of energy.

For every dollar you put into heating your water, about 82 cents of it is actually used to heat your water with a tankless water heater. When you have a tank water heater, though, only 60 cents of that dollar is used to heat water. The rest goes right down the drain!

Are you interested in learning more about instant hot water heaters for showers? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Save on Space

You’ve probably seen a tank water heater before—you know how big those storage tanks are and how much space they can take up! They usually need a dedicated spot in your garage, basement, or utility closet, and that bulky tank isn’t exactly easy to tuck away.

A tankless water heater, on the other hand, is compact and wall-mounted, freeing up valuable floor space. They’re small enough to fit in tight places and offer sleek designs that blend right in without sticking out like an eyesore. Whether it’s tucked in a corner of your utility room or mounted discreetly on a wall, it won’t take over the space.

Peace of Mind

Tank water heaters are usually pretty durable, but after years of holding water, that tank can start to wear down and develop leaks—and believe us, that’s something you never wanna deal with. 

The average water heater tank holds around 50 gallons of water and if that tank springs a leak, that’s a whole lot of water that can end up soaking your floors, walls, and anything nearby. Tankless water heaters eliminate this concern by cutting out the tank and heating water on demand instead.

No Stale Water

Traditional water heaters store water in a tank, where it sits until you need it. Over time, that stored water can become stagnant, especially if it’s not used frequently. Tankless water heaters heat water as it flows through the system, so there’s no standing water—just fresh, clean hot water whenever you need it. It’s a simple way to keep your water fresher and healthier for your home.

Long Lifespans

We’ve touched on plenty of benefits of tankless water heaters, but we’ve saved one of the best for last; they’re built to last. With proper care and maintenance, most tankless water heaters can keep running for up to 20 years—or even longer. That means fewer replacements and more years of reliable hot water, making it a smart long-term investment for your home.

Related: “7 Common Beliefs About Plumbing”

The Cons of Tankless Water Heaters

Higher Upfront Costs

Right off the bat, we wanna mention that tankless water heaters are usually more expensive to install than traditional tank systems. This is for two reasons; the general higher cost of the equipment and a more complex installation.

The Equipment

Tankless water heaters are packed with advanced technology that heats water instantly, which naturally comes with a higher price tag compared to a basic storage tank. But you’re also paying for better energy efficiency, durability, and a longer lifespan. Plus, since they last longer than traditional systems, you might even save money in the long run because you won’t be replacing them as often.

The Installation 

Installation can be a bit more involved since switching from a tank water heater to a tankless system may require adjustments to your plumbing, electrical system, or natural gas lines. That’s why it’s important to have experienced pros (like Morris-Jenkins, wink-wink) handle the job for you.

No Hot Water During Power Outages

Most tankless water heaters run on electricity, so when the power goes out, so does your hot water. If a storm knocks out your electricity or a blackout hits, you’ll have to wait until the power’s restored to get hot water again. It’s not a deal-breaker for most people, but it’s something to keep in mind.

With an electric tankless water heater, you usually won’t be able to access hot water until the power comes back on. Luckily, we’ve gotta solution for you…

Keeping the Hot Water Flowing During a Power Outage

If you experience a power outage, don’t worry! Battery backup generators can be added to your tankless water heater to make sure you’ll always have hot water when you need it!

Related: “Wait! Don’t Flush That!”

Potential Output Challenges

This is an issue that can be prevented by working with an experienced plumber like Morris-Jenkins, but it’s still something to keep in mind.

The size of your tankless water heater matters; if it’s too small, it might struggle to keep up if multiple people are using hot water at the same time. If it’s too big, though, you can run into issues with temperature control and general inefficiencies. 

That’s why it’s important to work with a pro who knows their stuff and can help you choose and install the right unit for your Charlotte-area home. With the right setup, you’ll have all the hot water you need, no matter which appliances are running.

The company is the world’s best IGBT Tilting Melting Furnace supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Looking for Tankless Water Heater Services in Charlotte and the Surrounding Area? Call Morris-Jenkins!